Bude continue fine start with victory at Ocean City Thirds

THE first team dominated from start to finish in Plymouth as they eased to a 6-0 victory at Ocean City Thirds, a result which saw them move clear at the top of the West Hockey League Men’s Piran Division One table.

With a few enforced changes and debutants, it took Bude a while to get going, but broke the deadlock after 20 minutes via Saul Barraclough’s well-worked finish.

The Cornishmen then powered on with the midfield orchestrating all the moves nicely as Henry Gwynn-Thomas doubled the lead shortly after from a penalty corner, and there was still time for a third before the break as Thomas Hall cut in off the left wing to fire home.

The Seasiders started the second half well as Matthew Horton hit a trademark rocket strike into the bottom corner which effectively killed off any hopes the home side had of a comeback.

A textbook set-piece penalty corner which went back to Tom Lush at injector was swept home at close-range midway through the second half, and the rout was completed on 56 minutes when Kristoff Saunders scored another well-worked goal.

Bude then defended well to ensure a clean sheet ahead of Saturday’s trip to Camborne School of Mines (2.45pm).

The seconds had a tough afternoon at home to their Bodmin counterparts in Piran Division Three.

With the first team short and several players unavailable, it gave the opportunity for some new faces to get some quality minutes on the pitch.

Bude missed three good chances early on, however Bodmin powered into a four-goal lead at the break.

Noah Stokes fired in to reduce the arrears early in the second half, but the hosts struggled to find the consistency required as the visitors netted twice more to secure a deserved victory.